"And with a couple of the houses, the homeowners were still there. That was weird. Our booker would say, 'Let's go for a pub lunch', and keep them there all day while we were filming in the house, because otherwise it's too difficult."

Celebrities who opened their doors to the cameras in series one included The Great British Bake Off's Mary Berry, The X Factor judge Louis Walsh and Splash actress Daryl Hannah.

As for series two, Keith said: "I'm blowing my own trumpet, but I think this series is better than the last. We went to Los Angeles to do a few houses - they were really Hollywood-style houses."

But Keith is clear who his dream celebrity home would belong to.

"Simon Cowell's would be amazing. We come on straight after The X Factor, so it would be great to do an X Factor Through The Keyhole special."

The original show launched in 1987, fronted by the late Sir David Frost and with Loyd Grossman doing the prying. The show was cancelled in 2008 before Keith - the character brought to life by Leeds-born comedian Leigh Francis - took the helm for the revamped version last year.

Grossman has given the show his seal of approval, and attended filming of the pilot episode.

"I said a few choice words in the first half of the recording - just specifically for the audience, because some of them expect a bit of naughty," said Keith, whose fruitier language is cut out in the editing process.

"I was a little bit concerned but I thought, 'You know what, I've got to do Through The Keyhole how I would do it'. I came off stage, and [Grossman] said he was crying with laughter."

:: Through The Keyhole returns to ITV tonight (August 30).

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